A flooded street in Hà Tĩnh Province. More residents will be evacuated as the water levels of reservoirs are rising high and torrential rain is predicted in over the next few days. —VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ TĨNH — Local authorities of central Hà Tĩnh Province plan to evacuate more than 45,000 residents living downstream of Kẻ Gỗ Reservoir as the water level is rising.

Reservoir levels have been almost a metre higher than normal due to prolonged torrential rain.

While facing water flow from the upstream, Kẻ Gỗ Reservoir has released water at 900 cu.m per second on Monday morning.

According to the provincial Steering Committee on Natural Disaster Prevention and Control, other large reservoirs and dams like Bộc Nguyên, Khe Xai, Tàu Voi, Thượng Sông Trí also discharged water at higher than normal levels.

A number of communes in Cẩm Xuyên, Hương Khê, Thạch Hà districts and Hà Tĩnh City have been isolated due to floods. Households have been forced to move their belongings to elevated positions.

As of 4am on Monday, more than 20,700 people from more than 7,100 households in Hà Tĩnh have been evacuated.

Nguyễn Văn Sáu, vice chairman of the Thạch Hà District People’s Committee said all communes in the district had flooded areas, causing serious traffic disruption.

Thạch Đài, Tân Lâm Hương, Thạch Vĩnh communes are the most affected. Local rescue teams have worked around the clock, helping villagers.

The district has evacuated more than 6,600 people.

Streets in Hà Tĩnh City are also flooded with water reaching up to 1m. All daily activities have been disrupted.

Torrential rain is predicted to continue in Hà Tĩnh Province so more people are expected to be relocated. — VNS